Leather-working machine



Oct. 23, 1928.

INVENTOR Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,655

L. O. RAMSDELL LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1927' 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,655

L. o. RAMSDELL LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1927 3 SheetsSheet 3 gim lNVENTOR Patented on. as, 19.28. 1,688,655

on rein STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYHDON o. RAMSDELL, or PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS, nssrenonrornn TURNER TANNING MACHINERY Germany, or sonrnnnn, MAINE, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

LEATHER-WORKING MACHINE.

Application filed September 1, 1227. Serial Ne. 216,825.

T his invention relates to machines for oplabor and effort of moving the Work-operating crating upon hides, skins, leather, and other tool to operative position and retaining it similar pieces of worn, and is illustrated as there. Moreover, the operator is not required embodied in a machine for setting grain surto attempt the operation of synchronizing 5 faces on hides and other relatively large the movements of the tool and the work suppieces of leather. port, and of maintaining uniform pressure A machine which has been extensively ems between these two co-operating parts; Prefployed in the setting of hides is shown in eraloly, and as shown, the power means re- United States Letters Patent No. 802,878, ferred to comprises a member controlled by 10 granted (lctoberzi l, 190:3,upon application of the work support, a toggle mechanism for F. J. Perkins. In this machine the bladed moving the work-operating tool to operative cylinder for operating upon the work is held position with respect to the work support, yieldingly in inoperative position and is and a readily displaceable link between the moved to operative position and retained work support controlled member and the toe;- t-here through a treadle arranged to be opergle mechanisnnand connected to neither, for

ated by the operator. Not only does this transmitting power to the toggle mechanism,

entail a very considerable amount of labor on for retaining it in operative condition. and the part of the operator but it requires both for permitting movement of the work-opermental and physical effort on his part thus ating tool to inoperative position at the proper distracting his attention from the distribution time through instantaneous release of the of dilferent portions of the work along the toggle mechanism following initiation of re- 7 work-supporting drum- Furthermore, the verse movement of the work support.

time of op ration of the cylinder is left to the In the illustrated construction, means is operator ince it does not begin to operate also provided for adjusting the pressure of on the work until it is depressed. into co-operthe bladed cylinder upon the workto suit ati e relation with respect to the drum. classes of work of various thicknesses, said Hence part of the cycle may be wasted means being also operable to relieve the presthrough failure to operate on the work at the sure at any point on a given piece of work very beginning of the cycle. Still more imwhile the machine is operating.

30 per-taut is the fact that the treadle-operated These and other features of the invention cylinder fails to secure uniformity in the reand various combinations of parts will now suits attained upon different pieces of work. described in detail and pointed out in the in other words, the results are dependent appended claims.

upon the pressure exerted by the operator In the drawings.

which may vary almost hourly and certainly Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation of a varies with the weight and strength of difsetting machine'showing one embodiment of ferent operators. the invention;

Obiects of this invention are to improve 1? 2 is an end elevational view looking hide and leather working machines by makfrom the left in Fig. l, certain parts being in 40 ing them more certain and uniform in operaso :tion;

tion and to DFO'vltlQ improved features of con- F 3 is a detail View of the mechanism strucltion which will obviate the disadvanshown in Fig. 2, certain of the parts being rages inherent in prior constructions. in a different position;

To these ends and in accordance with im- Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 with parts in a portant ".atures of the invention, power still different position;

means is provided for movingawork-operat- Fig. 5 is a detail view of the operating 10o in; instruinentality or tool to operative posimechanism for the bladed cylinder adjacent tion with respect to a work support in propto the other end of the machine from that erly timed relation to the movement of the shown in Fig. 2;

work support, the said means being also op- Fig. 6 is a detail of the adjusting mocha-- erative to move the tool to inoperative posinism for the bladed cylinder; tion instantaneously upon reversal of the 'Z is a view of Fig. 6 looking from the moveh' ofthc work support. By this an right in the latter figure; v alignment the operator is freed :trom. the 8 shows an eccentric pivot pin, the

same being part of the mechanisi'n which is shown in Figs. 6 and 7; and

Fi 9 shows'the details of a pawl employed in the operating mechanism for the cylinder. In the illustrated machine the drum 1() serves as a work support for presenting pieces of work in succession to a bladed cylinder 12, the drum having a surface of rubber 11. For co-operation with the drum 10 there is provided a clamping member 14 arranged to be held in its initial position of rest against stops 1.6 by means of springs 18. As shown, each stop 16 is pivotally mounted at adjacent parts of a stationary frame member 20. If the drum 1.0 be rotated from the position shown in F 1 and 2 to carry a. piece of work to position for operation by the bladed cylinder 12, the edge 15 of the drum, over which the piece of work is looped, first contacts with the clamp member 14 to clamp the work and then carries the clamp member along with it in its rotative movement so that the work, when it reaches the cylinder 12, is firmly clamped to the drum 10. lVhile the drum is in its position of rest, which is also its work-receiving position, the bladed cylinder 12 is'in raised inoperative position, as will be clear from an inspection of Figs. 2, 4 and 5. For supporting the cylinder in inoperative position there is provided a weighted 1nember 30 pivoted at 32 to a stationary part of the machine frame, the member 30 having a lever arm 34 for the reception of a vertically arranged rod 36, the latter (through a rigid link extension hereinafter described) being pivotally connected by a pivot 38 to a lever 40- which is provided with bearings 42 for supporting the bladed cylinder 12. As shown, the lever 40 is pivoted at 44 to a stationary part of the machine frame. It will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings that the member 30 with its adjustable weight 48 serves as a counterbalance to hold the cylinder-carrying lever 40 in an upper position of rest wherein it is spaced from adjustable screwthreaded member 50 located in the machine frame and adapted to serve as a stop to limit the extent of downward movement of the lever 40. In a prior construction, such as that shown, for instance, in United States Letters Patent No. 802,87 8, already referred to, the cylinder-carrying levers are pulled downwardly against the resistance of a weighted member corresponding to the weighted member 30 by means of a foot lever. In the illustratedmachine power-operated means is provided for moving the bladed cylinder into co-operative relation with respect to the worksupporting drum 10.

The means for depressing the cylinder referred to in the preceding paragraph comprises in the illustrated machine a toggle of which. upper link 54 is pivoted at its upper end to a stationary part 55 of the frame and lower link 56 is pivoted at 58 to the portion 34 of the weighted member 30. It will be clear that, upon straightening the toggle, the rod 36 will be pulled downwardly, a spring 60 positioned between the part 34 and a. disk 62 secured adj ustably upon the lower end of the rod 36 being of a weight and strength sufficient to move the rod 36 without yielding perceptibly. The function of spring 60 is to yield if an exceptionally thick portion of the work is fed between the work support and the bladed cylinder, thus permitting the cylinder to move upwardly to avoid injury to the Work. YVhile the rod 36 passes freely through the part 34 of the weightedmember 30, it is retained in a definite position except for the described yielding of the spring 60 by reason of the fact that the spring 60 holds the member 34 against lock nuts 64 (Figs. 2 and 4) secured to the rod 36 and contacting with a flat surface upon the upper side of the member 34. Hence, during oscillation of the member 30, 34 the rod 36 is also oscillated to move the bladed cylinder alternately upwardly and downwardly. The reason for moving the bladed cylinder 12 upwardly away from the drum resides in the fact that it is undesirable to have the bladed cylinder contact with the work during reverse movement of the drum, i. e., during movement of the drum back to initial posit-ion Where the piece of work just operated upon may be removed to substitute a fresh piece of work. For straightening the toggle links 54, 56, there is provided a cam secured to a shaft 72 which also supports and 1 operates the drum 10. While the drum 10 and the cam. 70 are at rest in initial position, a. low part 74 of the cam is always opposite to a cam roll 7 6 spaced from the part 74 and carried at one end of a link member 7 8, the latter being pivotally mounted at 80 at the upper end of a crank lever 82 rigidly secured to a shaft 84 which extends across the front of the machine, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. For holding link 78 in a substantially horizontal position there is provided a wei ht 79 (Fig. 4) at one end of the link which keeps the latter yieldingly against an adjustablestop 81 in the offset end of the lever 82. Rigidlv secured to'the shaft 84 is a second bell-crank 86, each of the bell-cranks 82, 86 havinghorizontally extending arms 88, 90, respectively, adapted to be secured together by means of a bolt the purpose of securing the arms 88,

90 together being to furnish an additional securing means between the two bell-cranks 82,

86 other than that furnished by the securing of the two bell-cranks to the shaft 84. Since the bell-cranks 82, 86 are rigidly secured to each other, movement of the bell-crank 82 by reason of the engagement of the cam 70 with the cam roller 76 will cause movement of the bell-crank 86 to straighten the toggle links 54. 56 through a connecting link 94 (Fig. 4) extending between the upper end of the bell- 13 apes-e55 crank 86 and the knee of the toggle. Preferably, and as shown, the link 94 is adjustable in length so that in the setting up of the machine the connection between thebell-crank 86 ard the toggle links 54, 56 may be so adjusted that the toggle is not completely straightened but remains a little off center so that it may be readily broken when the cam 70 re leases the cam roller 7 6. Since the. upper end of the toggle link 54 is pivoted to a stationary part of the machine frame, straightening of the toggle forces the end .34 of the lever memher 30 in a downward direction, thereby de pressing the bladed cylinder 12 through downward pull upon the rod 36. This downward movement of the bladed cylinder 12 takes place just in time to begin operation upon the piece of work where it passes over the edge 15 of the drum 10 adjacent to the clamp 14. The arrangement of weighted member 30, rod 36, lever 40, toggle links 54, 56, lever 86 and connecting link 94 is duplicated at theot-her end of the shaft 84, Where the corresponding parts are designated '36, 40 54 56, 86, and 94 respectively.

Since the bladed cylinder 12 should not operate in contact with the work upon reverse movement of the drum 10, the cylinder should be raised away from thework on the drum instantaneously upon reversal of the drum. Therefore, means is provided for breaking the toggle 54, 56, thereby permitting the weighted member 30 to return the cylinder 12 to its upper position of rest, the means comprising, in the construction shown, a ratchet member 100 secured to thecam to move with the drum 10 and adapted to move the cam roller 7 6 to inoperative position, this being accomplished by reason of the engagement of the ratchetmember with pawl 102 pivot-ally carried by the adjacent end of the member 78 below the roll 76. Upon inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that during rotation of the cam 70 and ratchet plate 100 in the direction of the arrow in said figure, the pawl 102 slips idly over the teeth of tne ratchet plate, being held in contact with the teeth by means of a spring 104 connected to the pawl at 105 (Fig. 9). Upon reverse movement of the drum 10 and ratchet plate 100, the pawl is instantly engaged, thereby causing downward movement of the adjacent part of the link 78, this downward movement being facilitated by the en gagement of the roller 7 6 with the cam 7 0 below the line joining the center of the shaft 7 2 and the center of the pivot 80. The result is hat the link 78 is tipped into the angular position shown in Fig. 4, this movement being due primarily to the tension of a spring 106 which connects the bell-crank 82 with the weighted member 30. In other words, sincethe bellcrank 82 is released by displacement of the link 7 8, the spring 106 operates instantly to pull the bell-crank 82 toward the left in Figs.

2, 3 and 4. Since bell-crank 86 is fixedly secured to bell-crank 82 the former also moves .to the left, thereby causing release. of the toggles 54, 56 through the connecting link 94 4). Hence, the weighted member 30 is rotatably mounted in bearings 112, 114 at the upper ends of link members 11 118 each con- V ected rigidly to the upper end of the rods 36 and 36. Fixedly carried by one end 128 (Figs. 1 and 8) of each pivot- 88 is a sprocket wheel 120 around which passes a sprocket chain 122 which also engages with a second sprocket wheel 124 fixedly secured to one end of the shaft 110. The described arrangement of chain and sprockets applies to the construction at both ends of the shaft 110 so that l the description of one applies with equal force to the otl er. The pivot 38 has an intermediate eccentric portion 126 (Fig. 8) which is engaged within a correspondin ly shaped bearing in the lower end of the lever 40 or 40. As indicated in Fig. 8 and as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, the other end of the pivot 38 is engaged with an extension of member 116 or 118 on the side of lever 40 or 40 which faces toward the drum. In other words, members 116 and 118 have forked portions which embrace narrowed portions of levers 40, 40, respectively. It will be clear that. upon rotation of the eccentric 126, which is normally in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the connection between the rod 36 and the lever 40 is adjusted so that the lever is moved either toward the drum or away therefrom in accordance with the direction of rotation of the eccentric 126. This rotation of eccentric 1.26 is accomplished by rotating the shaft 110 and for this purpose a manually operable lever is provided which, in the illustrated construction, comprises an arm 130 rigidly secured to the shaft 110 adjacent to one end thereof and provided with a handle portion 132 to which is pivoted a movable handle 184. To this latter handle is pivoted a slidable latching rod 186 normally urged in a downward direction by a spring 138 to engage its lower end selectively with one of notches 140 in a notched member 142 rigidly secured to the bearing 114. To adjust the shaft 110 it is necessary merely to grasp the handle members 132, 134, bringing them into close juxtaposition to each other and thus lifting the locking rod 136 out of engagement with the notch in the member 142 and then to push or pull on the handle until it is brought to the new desired position where it maybe loo a of work with different pressures.

again locked by engagement with a selected one of the notches 140.

Means is provided for predetermining the extent of adjustment of the shaft 110 through manipulation of the handle member 130, said means, in the construction shown, comprising an adjustable stop 150 mounted rotatably upon the end of the shaft 110 and provided with a notch-engaging member 152. Conveniently this notch-engaging member is urged into engagement with a selected notch by means of a spring 154 (Fig. 7). By lifting upwardly on the member 152 against the resistance of the spring 154, the stop 150 may be rotated freely on the shaft 110 to bring it into selected position whereupon the memher 152 may be released to engage one of the notches 140 to hold the stop 150 in the desired position. Now when the lever 130 is manipulated to rotate the shaft 110, the latter may be turned instantaneously the desired distance since the stop 150 has been located to predetermine this distance, thus enabling the operator to perform the operation without thought as to the distance through which the shaft is being turned. The rotative adjustment of the shaft 110 which secures adjustment of the bladed cylinder 12 with respect to the surface of the drum 10 may be utilized to adapt the machine to operation upon various classes of hides or skins which are known to vary considerably in their thickness dimensions in the various classes, or upon the flesh and grain sides of the same piece The adjustment may also be employed during the operation of the machine to relieve the pressure exerted by the cylinder upon the work in case the cylinder is approaching a hole in the work or a torn portion, operation upon which at normal pressure might result in further damage to this portion of the work. Furthermore, this adjusting means permits the operator to relieve the pressure instantly in case of emergency without stopping the machine in the usual manner.

Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be observed that the bladed cylinder 12 is arranged to be driven continu ously in one direction, its shaft 160 being provided with pulleys 162, 164 at each end about which pass belts 166, 168, respectively, each of which engages a corresponding p ullcy on a power shaft 170, one of the pulleys on the shaft 170 being shown at 172m Fig. 2.

This shaft 170 is arranged to be driven from any suitable source of power through a belt (not shown) adapted to engage with fast and loose pulleys 174, 17 6 on the shaft 170. For operating the drum shaft 72 the latter is provided with a gear wheel 180 arranged in mesh with a gear (not shown) on a shaft 182, the latter having a gear wheel 18% arranged in mesh with a pinion 186 on a shaft 188 provided with a double cone clutch 190, the latter being arranged to be shifted by means of a handle lever 192 in accordance with a wellknown construction and arrangement, as shown, for instance, in the Perkins patent already referred to. The shaft 188 carries pulleys 194: and 196, the former arranged to be driven by a cross-belt 198 and the latter by a straight belt 200 from the power shaft 170. Obviously, the shaft 188 may be caused to rotate first in one directionand then in the reverse direction through proper manipulation of the handle lever 192. In this way the operator may cause movement of the drum to present a piece of work to the bladed cylinder 12 and may at any time reverse the movement of the drum to return the latter to initial position. Normally the drum is automatically reversed through engagement of the cam member 202 fastened on the drum shaft 7 2 with cone shifting lever 204-. As already stated, upon reversing the movement of the drum the cylinder 12 is raised away therefrom into inoperative position by means of the weighted member 30.

In operating the illustrated machine, a piece of work, such as a hide or other relatively large piece of leather, is first introduced into the machine by throwing approximately half of the piece of work into the drum with an intermediate portion lying over the edge 15. Upon starting the machine in operation by proper manipulation of the handle lever 192, the drum 10 rotates in a counterclockwise direction,in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, to carry the work into contact with the clamping member 14, the clamping member thereafter moving with the drum for holding the work firmly clamped upon the edge 15. Just as this edge 15 reaches position below the cylinder 12 the latter is depressed to bring its blades into co-operative relation with respect to the drum to operate upon the piece of work as the latter is spread out upon the cylindrical surface of the drum. Since the blades of the cylinder are helically arranged to extend from a point near the longitudinal center of the cylinder outwardly toward each end thereof,the piece of work is spread out laterally in opposite directions from a central portion thereof and at the same time the blades operate to set the grain surface of the hide or skin and to express moisture if the latter be present in excessive amount. \Vhen the work has been operated upon by the bladed cylinder, the drum may be at once reversed by the operator throwing the handle lever 192 in the opposite direction, or the drum may be allowed to be reversed by the automatic means. pro vided for the purpose, reverse movement of the drum being instantly accompanied by return of the bladed cylinder 12 to its inoperative position so as not to contact with the work during reverse movement thereof. If at any time the operator should discover the pressure of the cylinder on the work to be too great, he may instantly relieve the pressure by manipulation of the lever 130 in the manner already described. Furthermore, as already stated, manipulation of the lever 130 may relieve pressure on the work at a point where normal pressure of the working cylinder might cause damage as, for instance, where the hide or skin is in a perforated or torn condition. By use of the lever 130 the pressure on the work may be relieved or modilied without stopping the machine whereas if the lever 192 be utilized to reverse the drum and cause the bladed cylinder 12 to move away from the work, the drum must return to initial position before the work may be again engaged by the bladed cylinder. Hence, it the lever 192 be manipulated to reverse the drum in the middle of the operation upon a piece of work, the drum returns all the way to initial position when part of the work is still unoperated upon, whereas by manipulationof the lever 180 the work may be'operated upon although at a reduced pressure. Normall however, the lever 130 will not be used except in case of emergency. Upon return of the drumto initial position the piece of work is removed and turned end for end in order to throw the treated portion of the work into the drum, leaving the untreated portion to rest upon the exterior cylindrical surface of the drum so that it may be operated upon by the bladed cylinder 12 in a succeeding operation of the'machine.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the UmtedStates 1S a a 1. In a machine for operating upon hides,

skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a tool for operating on a piece of work, a support for the piece of Work movable in one direction to present the work to the tool and in a reverse direction to return the pie e of work to initial position, and power-operated means for moving the tool into position to operate upon the work while the work support is moving-in one direction and formoving the tool to inoperative position] during a I a to n tial posit1on, cam-operated meansfor the reverse movement of the work support,

2. In a machine for operating upon hides,

skins, leather and other similar pieces o'l work, a tool for operating on a piece of work,

a support torthe piece of work movable in one direction to present the workto the tool and in a reverse directionto return the piece of work to init al position, and powerfopen ated means controlled the movable work support for moving the tool into position to operate upon the work while the work sup port is moving in one direction and for moving the toolto inoperative position during the reverse movement of the worksupport. y

3. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other slmilarp eces ot work, a tool for operating on a piece ofwork, I

a rotary member rotatable in one direction to present apiece {of work to the toolandin the reverse directionto return the piece of work to initialposition, and'power operated 'mea'ns controlled by therotary member for moving the tool into position to operate upon the work during rotation of the Work support in one direction and to move the tool away from the work support during the reverse movement of thelatter.

4. In a machine for operatingupon hides,

skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a rotary cylinder for operating on a piece of work, a rotary member rotatable in one dlrection to present a piece of work to the tool andin the reverse direction to repiece of work, a rotary work support for presenting a piece 'ot'work to the cylinder, said work support being rotatable in one direction.

during, operation of the cylinder andin the reverse direction to return the piece of work to initial position, cam means controlled by the Work support for moving the cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the rotary work support in properly timed rela tion to the work presenting movementot the work support and for moving the cylinder to inoperat ve position instantaneously upon initiationof reverse movement of the rot 'y work, support. a i

6. In a machinefor operating upon. hides,

skins, leather and other similar-pieces ofv wo'rk,a bladed cylinder for operating upon a piece of work, a rotary work support for presentinga piece ofwork to the cylinder, said work support being rotatable in one direction during operation 01" the cylinder and inthe reverse direction to return the piece of work moving the cylinder into cooperative relation with respectto the rotary work support in properly timed relation to the work presenting movement of the work support, and means controlled by the, rotary work support toranoving the cylinder to inoperative posis 'rect ion to presentthe [work to the bladed cylinder and in the reverse direction-to return the piece of WOlk tQ ln-ltlal position, means comprising a toggle for moving the cylinder toward the rotary member, a cam for operating the toggle, and means operative instantaneously to break the toggle upon initiation of rotation of the rotary work support in the reverse direction.

8. In a machine for operating uponhides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, an instrumentality for operating upon a piece of work, a rotary member for support ing a piece of work and rotatable in one direction to present the work to the instrumentality and in the reverse direction'to return the piece of work to initial position, means comprising a toggle for moving the instrumentality toward the rotary member, and means operative to break the toggle upon initiation or rotation of the rotary work sup-- port in the reverse direction.

'9. In a machine for operating upon hides. skins, leather and other similar pieces oi work, a bladed cylinder for operating upon a piece of work,a rotary work support movable in one direction to present a piece of work 'to the bladed cylinder and in the reverse direction to return the piece of work to initial position, power means for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the work presenting-surface of the rotary work support, said means comprising a toggle, a cam movable with the rotary work support, an operative connection between the cam and the toggle for causing the latter to be straightened thereby effecting movement 01" the bladed cylinder to operative position, and means for instantaneously rendering the operative connection ineffective for holding the toggle in straightened condition in combination with means for returning the bladed cylinder to inoperative position upon initiation of reverse movement of the work support.

10. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating upon a niece of work a rotar 1 work su 3 ort movable to present a piece of work to the bladed cylinder and in the reverse direction to return the piece of work to initial position, power means for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the work presenting surface of the rotary work sup port, said means comprising a toggle, a cam movable with the rotary work support, an. operative connection between the cam and the toggle for causing the latter to be straightened thereby effecting movement of the bladed cylinder to operative position, and paw]. and ratchet means controlled by the work support. for instantaneously rendering the operative connection ineli ective for holding the toggle in straight-ened condition in combination with means for returning the bladed cylinder to inoperative position upon initiation of reverse movement of the work support.

11. In a machine for operating upon hides,

skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on .a piece of work, a rotary work support for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylin der, a cam movable with the work support, means for moving the bladed cylinder into co-- operative relation with respect to the work support comprising a toggle mechanism, and an operative connection between the cam and the toggle mechanism for operating the latter in timed relation to the rotation oi the work support.

12. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces oi? work, a bladed cylinder for operating on a piece of work, a rotary work support for prc sentiug a piece of work to the bladed cylinder, a cam movable with the rotary work sup port, means operated by the cam for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the rotary work support and retaining it there, and means associated with the cam for rendering the cylinder moving and retaining means inoperative upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the work support. V

13. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces ott work, a bladed cylinder for operating on a piece of work, a rotary work support movable in one direction for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylinder and in a reverse direct tion to return the piece of work to initial po sition, means for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the rotary work support and retaining it there, and means for moving the bladed cylinder away from the work support instantaneously upon reversing the. direction of movement of the work support, said means comprising means for causing disconnection of the cylinder moving and retaining means from the source of power and initiation of the opera tion oi the means for moving the cylinder away from the rotary work support.

14. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, abladed cylinder for operating on a piece of work, a rotary work support for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylinder, means for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the rotary work support, a member movable with the work support for. controlling said means, and a second member associated with the work support for rendering the cylinder moving means inoperative upon movement of the work support in the reverse direction. 15. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on a piece of work, a rotary work support for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylinder, a cam rotatable with the rotary work support, means for moving the bladed cylinlilo der into cooperative relation with respect to the work support, said means comprising a toggle member, a link adapted to be operated by the cam and having connections to the toggle mechanism for causing operation of the latter, and a member associated with the cam for operating the link to render the cylinder moving means inoperative upon reverse movement of the Work support.

16. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a bladed cylinderfor operating on a piece of work, a rotary work support for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylinder, means for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation With respect to the work support and retaining it there, means for releasing the bladed cylinder and for causing it to move away from the work support upon reversing the movement of the latter, and means for relieving the pressure of the bladed cylinder upon the work supported by the work support during Work presenting movement of the latter.

17. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a tool for operating on a piece of work, a Work support for presenting a piece of work to the tool, means for moving the tool into cooperative relation with respect to the Work support and retaining it there, and means under control of the operator for lessening the pressure of the tool upon the work at any point in the operation thereof on the work while the cooperative relation of the tool and the work support is maintained by the first-mentioned means.

18. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on a piece of Work, a Work support for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylinder, means for moving the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the work sup port comprising a pivoted lever for supporting the bladed cylinder, means for moving the lever toward the work support comprising a member pivoted to the lever, and means for thus pivoting the member to the lever comprising an eccentric pivot to vary the pressure of the bladed cylinder upon the Work backed by the work support.

19. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of Work, a tool for operating on a piece of work,

a Work support having a work-receiving position and movable for presenting a piece or" work to the tool, a member controlled by the Work support, a toggle mechanism for moving the tool into cooperative relation with respect to the Worksupport, and a readily displaceable link between the work-supportcontrolled member and the toggle mechanism, and connected to neither, for operating the toggle mechanism in timed relation to the movement of the work support and adapted for instantly releasing the toggle mechanism upon movement 01 the work support toward work-receiving position.

20. In a machine for operating uponhides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a bladedcylinder for operating 011 a piece of work, a rotary work support having a work-receiving position and movable for presenting a piece of work to the bladed cylinder, a cam controlled by the rotary work support, a toggle, a link arranged to be operated by the cam for causing straightening of the toggle to move the bladed cylinder into cooperative relation with respect to the rotary Work support, said link being free to move With respect to both the cam and the toggle, means associated with the cam for rendering the link inoperative, and means for moving the tool to inoperative position as soon as said link is rendered inoperative.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification.

LYNDON' O. RAMSDELL. 

